Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-01

contemplation to the days OF the
Catacombs. It's foundation was
laid by Pope Calixtus in the year OF our
Lord 224. 1t was restored by Pope JalluS
in the fourth century, and renovated by
another supreme pontif in the twelfth.
That never Ceasing sOlicitude which the
sovereign pontlffs have exhibited IN
erecting the material temples which are
the glory of this city, they have also
manifested on larger scale in rearing
spiritual walls to Zion throughout Chris
tendon in every age. Scarcely were the
United States of America formed into an
Independent government when Pope
Plus VII established therein a Catholic
hierarchy and appointed the illustrious
John Carroll first Bishop Of Baltimore.
Our Catholic community in those days
numbered only q few thousand
souls and they were scat
tered chiefly through the states
of New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
They were served by q mere handful Of
priests, but now, thanks to the tructlty-
ing grace of GOD, the grain OF mus
tard seed then planted has grown
to large tree, spreading Its
branches through the length and breadth
of our fair land. Where only one bishop
was found in the beginning OF this cen
tury there are now seventy five eXeTcls-
ing spiritual jurisdiction, For this great
progress we are indebted under
God and the fostering care of the
Holy See, to the civil liberty we enjoy
in our enlightened republic. Our holy
father, Leo NH, in his luminous encyCH-
cal on the constitution OF Chris
tian states, declares that the
fn nv
particular form of civil government. She
adapts herself to all. She leaVens all
with the sacred leaven of the Gospel. She
has lived under absolute empires, under
constitutional mOnarchies and in free
republics, and everywhere she grows
and expands. She has often, indeed,
been hampered in her divine
mission. She has even been forced to
stru ggle for existence wherever despot-
ism S its dark shadow like plant shut
out from the blessed sunlight CT Heaven,
but in the general atmosphere OF liberty
she blossoms like the rose. For myself,
as a citizen of the United States,
and without closing my eyes to our short
Comings as g nation, | say with q deep
sense of pride ard gratitude that | belong
to & country where a civil government
EOllAS OfCl uo IlC a lis VA lGC DAOISS'ACAA
without interfering with US in the legiti-
mate exercise of our sublime mission
as ministers of the gospel of Christ. Our
country has liberty without license, and
authority without despotism. She rearS
no wall TO exclude the stranger from
coming among us. She has few froWning
fortifcations to repel the invader,
for she is at peace with all
the world. she rests secure in
| the consciousness of her strength and her
good will toward all. Her harbors are
open to welcome the honest emigrsnt who
comes to advance his temporal interests
and find a peaceful home. But while
we are acknowledged to have a
| free government, perhaps we do not
receive the credit that belongs TO US for
having also strong government. Yes.
! our nation fs strong in the loyalty OF the
citizens, and the affection of her people
| for her free institutions. There are indeed,
grave social problems now engaging
earnest American citizens of the United
| States which no doubt, with Gods bles-
sing, will be solved by calm judgment
and the sound sense of the American
people without violence or revolution
or any injury to individual
right. AS an evidence of
his good will for the great republic in the
west, and as a mark of his appreciation of
, the venerable hierarchy Of the United
States, and as an expression
of his kind consideration for
| the ancient see of Baltimore, our holy
father has been grsciously pleased to ele-
vate its present incumbent in my humble
person to the dignity of the purple. For
| 7 hoo .
tender TO the holy father my profound
thanks in my own name snd in the name
of the clergy and fSithfuI. l venture to
thank him also iI the name Of my veneer
| able colleagues, bishops as well as cler-
q, and the Catholic laity
OF the United States. l presume to
also thank him in the name Of
our separated brethren in America, who,
though not sharing our faith, have shown
they are not insensible; indeed, that they
are deeply sensible of the honor con-
ferred upon cur common country,
and have again and again expressed
their warm admiration for the enlightened
craftsmanship and apostolic virtues and
benevolent character OF the illustrious
Pontif, who now sits in the chair OF
Saint Peter"
The Cardinals voice was strong and
ringing. Each word he said was dis
tinctly heard, although he spoke under
the disadvantage of being seated behind
an altar. His voice rose to-
wards the conclusion of his
address, which was pronounced
magnificent. The choir now effectively
rendered the TIE Deum, set to splendid
music, after which the Cardinal went
forward to the altar and papa
indulgence of 100 days was
read in Latin. The CsrGina
then blessed the people assembled. The
church was occupied largely by Ameri
cans and distinguished visitors to Rome
during the investiture ceremonies. Ir
addition to the Americans, French and
Italians who packed the body of the
church q number of Romans, men, Womer
and children of the peasant class, were
present. All the prelstes with the Car.
dinsl returned to the sacristy. Bishop:
Ireland, Keane and Watterson;
Archbishop Kirby, Rector O
the Irish College; Archbishop
Carr of Melbourne, Monsiguor Honor
O'Callaghan, Rector of the English Col
Iege; Monsignor Pursol of the French
church, with others, surrounded Cardi-
nsl Gibbons, who was sesteC
in the sscristy. The prothonotary
then read Latin process verbal which
relates to each event, however small
in the proceedings of taking posses
sion, which document was signed
h.